Two-phase flow and thermal response from nuclear excursions in tuff

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Thermal hydrology calculations were performed to predict the geologic thermal and saturation response of a far-field nuclear criticality. The thermal hydrology (THX) calculations used an experimental version of a transient multi-phase fluid and energy simulator, BRAGFLO{_}T. A total of 45 THX calculations were completed using various combinations of initial saturation S{sub 0}, input heat generation zone (HGZ) radii r{sub 0}, input energies E{sub 0}, and input space power density functions (SPDFs). The thermal hydrology calculations were performed as a part the nuclear dynamics consequence analysis (NDCA) study for potential criticality consequences associated with disposal of high-level waste (HLW) and spent ...
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Description

Thermal hydrology calculations were performed to predict the geologic thermal and saturation response of a far-field nuclear criticality. The thermal hydrology (THX) calculations used an experimental version of a transient multi-phase fluid and energy simulator, BRAGFLO{_}T. A total of 45 THX calculations were completed using various combinations of initial saturation S{sub 0}, input heat generation zone (HGZ) radii r{sub 0}, input energies E{sub 0}, and input space power density functions (SPDFs). The thermal hydrology calculations were performed as a part the nuclear dynamics consequence analysis (NDCA) study for potential criticality consequences associated with disposal of high-level waste (HLW) and spent nuclear fuel (SNF) in an underground geologic repository. In the NDCA study it was identified that total fission energy E{sub 0}, integrated from the power-time history, has an expected range of 10{sup 17}--10{sup 20} total fissions per excursion. This range of values is comparable to those reported for aqueous criticality accidents that had occurred in processing plants. The THX results show (using the conservative temperature recycle times) that a criticality frequency between 3 and 30 criticalities/yr is possible. Probability frequencies (generated by probabilistic risk analysis and the THX model) for these consequences indicate that any additional fissions are minor contributions to the biological hazards caused by the disposed fissile materials.

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